Reciprocating sheet feeding device



July 17, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 17, 1947 July 17, 1951 0. K. PEcKHAM RECIPROCATING SHEET FEEDING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. l?, 1947 INVENTOR Bv M mu@ ATTORN EY July 17, 1951 o. K. PEcKHAM RECIPROCATING SHEET FEEDING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet :5

Filed Feb. 17, 1947 INVENTOR jpeckbam ATTORNEYS July 17, 1951 o. K. PEcKHAM 2,561,223

RECIPROCATING SHEET FEEDING DEVICE Filed Feb. 17, 1947 4 sheets-sheet 4 INVENTOR O. .76. Peck/2am ATTORNEYS Patented July 17, 1951 UNIT ED STAT ES. PATENT Oi-FFfl RECIPROCATING SHEETFEEDING DEVICE Orville K. Peckham, Sonora, Calif.

Application February 17, 1947,Se1ia1 No. 728,988

(Cl. wle-42) 3 Claims.

In particular the'A invention is directedv to, and.

it is an object-to provide, a novel machine, operativeto automatically lassemble, in proper order and in matching engagement, printed sheets initially disposed in separate stacks; the machine being especiallyuseful for the purpose of assembling the sheets of small newspapers, folders, pamphlets, or thelike.v

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine,` of the .character described, which is automatically operative to fold the -assembled sheets half upon half vwhere the publication is one which includes folded-sheets.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine, for assembling` or collating printed sheets, which comprises an endless conveyor, a plurality lof tables mounted in spaced relation lengthwise of and adjacent the conveyor adapted to. each support a stack of printed sheets, and sheet feeding means operative,` in timed relation to the' conveyor, tovfeed individual sheets from the stacks: at such times that'with advance of f the conveyor` the sheets deliver inpredetermined order and matching relation into spaced piles on said conveyor.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel, sheet pile. folding unit, arranged adjacent the dischargeend of the conveyor to act on the sheet piles to fold the same halfupon half.

A further object ofthe invention is to provide a practical paper collator andy folder, and one-which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are ,accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement lof parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the 4following specication and claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the machine, as in use.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the machine, looking from the opposite side.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse section taken through the conveyor assembly and directly to the rearf of one of the sheet feeding units;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional elevation of the sheet folding unit.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic side elevation, illustrating the successive delivery of sheets, in timed order, onto the conveyor from each sheet feeding unit.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, `the machine comprises-*an upstanding main frame i which supports an upwardly inclined, endless conveyor r unit, indicated generally at 2; said conveyor unit comprising a pairof transversely spaced, parallel, side beams 3 connected together in rigid relation, anda series of side-byfside, endless flexible tapes. 4 are disposed between the side beams 3, beingy supported at opposite ends by rollersii and l. The upper roller 6 is driven, in the manner -hereinafter described, in a direction suchJ that theupper runs of the endlesstapes 4 travel in an upward direction, as shown by-the arrow in Fig. 2.

The main-frame l supports, at longitudinally spaced points, and-above the tapesl 4, a plurality of sheet feeding units, each 'of'which is indicated Y generally at 1; saidl sheet Vfeeding units l being maintained in substantially straight-linerelationl throughout the length of the conveyor.

As each of the sheet feeding unitsv'l are of substantially identical construction, a description of one will suffice for all. i Each suchy unit comprises a horizontal table l2, fixedly supported from the side beams 3' of the endless conveyor unit 2; such table including upstandingV end plates I3 whereby to maintain a stack I4 of printed sheets on said table in proper position laterally thereof. Adjacent itsrear end each table l2 is fitted, below ther same, witha cross shafty I5 having` an upstandv ing arm I6 fixed on one end thereof for oscillating i This arm l .is

movement in a vertical" plane. oscillated through a predetermined arc by means of a connecting rod ll pivoted at one end to said,

arm intermediate the ends of the'latter, as at I8, and thence extending at a forward anddownward incline. At its lower end. each connecting rod ll is securedby an eccentric pin I9 .to a sprocket 20 on the adjacent end of the cross shaft I ll. Thus, upony rotation of each sprocket 20,.the cor. responding'arinA I6 is oscillated, which motion' is 3 employed to feed the sheets, yone at a time, forwardly from the top of the stack I4 by the following means:

At its upper end the oscillating arm I6 is fitted with a rigid, horizontal laterally inwardly projecting spindle 2| on which a sleeve 22 is turnably disposed; escape of the sleeve 22 from the spindle 2| being prevented by means of a spring 23. A friction washer unit 24 is disposed on a spindle 2l between the varm I5 and the adjacent end of the sleeve 22; this friction washer unit 24 serving a purpose as hereinafter described.

At its free or outer end the sleeve 22 is fitted with a forwardly and downwardly inclined thrustl rod 25 having a transverse or T-head 26 on its lower end. The T-head 26 projects at opposite ends through ears 21 which are upstanding from a transverse block 28 of substantial length. The transverse block 29 is formed, on its lower surface, with 'a friction pad 29. Outwardly of the ears 21 the ends of the T-head 26 turn rearwardly and are formed as upwardly curved skids 30.

The sprockets 20 are simultaneously driven by an endless chain 3l which extends along the endless conveyor unit 2 on the outside thereof adjacent said sprockets the upper run of said chain meshing with the sprockets in over and under relationship, whereby to provide of positive toothchain engagement at all times. At its lower end the chain transverses an idler sprocket 32, while at its upper end said chain traverses, and is driven by, a'sprocket 33 on a cross shaft 34. The cross shaft 34 is driven by a pulley 35; said pulley 35 being actuated from an electric motor 36 on the main frame I through the medium of an endless belt 37, a speed-reduction unit 38, and another endless belt 39, all coupled together, as shown in Fig. l.

' The driven roller 6 is actuated from the chain 3| by a sprocket 43 on one end of the shaft of said roller.

The connecting rods Il are secured by the eccentric pins I9 tothe sprockets 29 at such points that the sheet feeding units 'I are actuated in predetermined timed relationship, to the end that the following result is accomplished.

As the machine operates the lowermost sheet feeding unit I functions, upon oscillation of its arm I6, to advance the topmost sheet from the corresponding Stack I4 forwardly toward the upper run of the tapes 4. The corresponding roller 8, in cooperation with the central tape 4, engages and advances said sheet, indicated at 4I, in the manner illustrated in Fig. 5.V This sheet 4I is thus delivered to the endless conveyor unit 2 and begins its upward travel. As such sheet reaches a predetermined point in relation to the other and following ones of the sheet'feedingY units l, the latter function successively to feed other sheets 42, 43, 44, and 45 in stacked matching relation thereon. In this manner there is a successive and predetermined piling .of the sheets onto the upper run 'of the endless conveyor 2; whereby to collate the sheets from the several stacks I4 into completed sheet piles wherein the sheets bear a predetermined relationship to each other. Y l

Each of the sheet feeding units 'I functions generally in the following manner:

Starting from a retracted position the oscillating arm swings forwardly, advancing the sleeve 22, thrust rod 25, and the connected transverse 28fwith its friction pad 29. vOn this advancing stroke the friction pad 29 oscillates the uppermost asenea sheet I4 forwardly a corresponding distance for engagement and movement by the conveyor, as previously described. The oscillating arm I6 then swings rearwardly vin a retracting stroke, and during this stroke undesirable rearward sliding of the top sheet of the corresponding stack I4 is prevented by a slight lifting of the friction pad 29. This is accomplished by the friction washer unit 24, whose friction tends to cause a slight rising motion of the transverse block 28 and pad 29 as the arm traverses its retracting stroke. Simultaneously, the skids 39 may bear on such upper sheet in easy sliding relation.

After the progressive formation or collation of the sheet piles on the endless conveyor 2, each completed pile, as indicated at P, passes olf the upper end of the conveyor onto a sheet folding unit, indicated generally at F. This unit comprises a receiving table 46 having an end stop 47. The receiving table 46 is formed with a central transverse slot 48, through which a pair ofcooperating transverse rollers 49 and 59 are exposed; said rollers being supported between the side beams 3. The roller 49 is driven to turn in the direction shown by the arrow in Fig.'5, as such roller is formed on the cross shaft 34. The other roller 59 is spring-urged, by a mount, indicated at 5I yieldably toward the driven roller 49.

The receiving table 46, together with the described assembly of the rollers 49 and 50, form part of the sheet or stack folding unit, which additionally includes a vertically reciprocable transverse bending blade 52 normally disposed above, but adapted to project between, the rollers 49 and 59. v v

As each completed pile P of the sheets is deposited on the receiving table 46, the blade 52 acts in timed relation to swing downwardly into engagement with such pile P centrally of its ends. With continued movement n such direction the blade forces such pile at the engaged transverse line between the rollers 49 and 50, as shown in Fig. 4, which rollers complete the folding operation and deliver the folded sheet pile P into a catch tray 53 supported below the upper end portion of the endless conveyor 2.

The bending or folding blade 52 is mounted and actuated for the above operation as follows:

The blade 52 is mounted, transversely of the endless conveyor 2, on the forward end of a longitudinally extending walking beam 54 pivoted, intermediate its ends, as at 55, to one of the side beams 3; there being a tension spring 56 connected to said walking beam in a manner to normally raise the blade 52. A rotary cam 5l on the adjacent end of one of the driven cross shafts I5 works in cooperative relation to the rear end portion of the walking beaml I4; said cam being operative to work the walking beam 54 and the bending blade 52V in the necessary timed relation to the operation of the endless conveyor and associated sheet feeding units l.

With the above described machine printed sheets may be collated in an effective, convenient and automatic manner; theresultant sheet piles being automatically folded before delivery fromV the machine, the machineA functioning very accurately and at substantial speed, so that it effects a material saving in time and labor.

At the same time, it will be evident that by disengaging or eliminating the blade from the structure, the machine may be employed to dev liver ythe collated sheets unfolded'into a traygas may be desirable in certain circumstances.

Also, another blade and folding roller unit may be arranged in position to receive the once-folded piles of sheets, and by operation in properly timed relation to the initial folding unit subject such piles to a further folding operation. By so doing, papers of certain sizes will then be ready for insertion into envelopes if desired.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there has been produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention the following is claimed as new and useful, and upon which Letters Patent are desired:

l. A sheet feeding unit comprising a table adapted to support a stack of sheets, an arm upfstanding adjacent one side of the table mounted for oscillation in a longitudinal. vertical plane, a supporting rod fixed on the arm and project ing laterally inward over the table and stack theron, a sleeve turnably but axially immovably mounted on the supporting rod, a friction washer unit between adjacent parts of the sleeve and arm, a thrust rod extending from the sleeve at a forward and downward incline above said table and stack, a transverse block secured to the lower end of the thrust rod, a friction pad on the bottom of the transverse block, and rearwardly eX- tending skids on the block at spaced points, the friction pad acting to feed the top sheet of the stack on each advancing stroke of the thrust rod and the skids tending to ride the next uppermost sheet with the pad clear thereof upon the following retracting stroke of said thrust rod.

2. A sheet feeding unit comprising a table adapted to support a stack of sheets, an arm upstanding adjacent the table and mounted at its lower end for oscillation in a longitudinal vertical plane, a thrust rod projecting downwardly from the arm for reciprocation thereby above the stack, a pivot connection between the arm and rod, a friction pad on the lower end of the rod to engage and advance the top sheet of the stack on the advancing stroke of the rod, and a yieldable friction drag acting on the rod to prevent free turning of the same about its pivot connection and cause the rod to lift from the sheet upon the retracting stroke of the arm and rod; said pivot connection comprising a transverse spindle on the arm and a sleeve on the rod turnable on the spindle, and said friction drag comprising a friction washer disposed on the spindle between the arm and sleeve, and a spring mounted ori-the arm and acting on the sleeve to shift the same axially and press the same against the washer.

3. A sheet feeding unit comprising a table adapted to support a stack of sheets, an arm upstanding adjacent one side of the table and mounted for oscillation in a longitudinal vertical plane, a supporting rod fixed on the arm and projecting laterally inward over the table and stack thereon, a sleeve vLurnably but axially iminovably mounted on the supporting rod, a friction washer unit between adjacent parts of the sleeve and arm, a thrust rod extending from the sleeve at a forward and downward incline above said table and stack, and a friction pad on the lower end of the thrust rod adapted to engage and advance the top sheet of the stack on the advancing stroke of said thrust rod.

ORVILLE K. PECKHAM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 746,631 Hill Dec. 8, 1903 1,167,367 Wells Jan. 4, 1916 1,407,646 Dun Lany Feb. 21, 1922 1,575,891 Ashby Mar. 9, 1926 1,579,468 Cooper Apr. 6, 1926 1,870,443 Cumfer Aug. 9, 1932 1,871,707 Klupmeyer et al. Aug. 16, 1932 1,964,498 Brasseur June 26, 1934 2,197,036 Ford Apr. 16, 1940 2,288,755 Taggart July 7, 1942 2,335,970 Schmidt Dec. 7, 1943 2,427,839 Davidson Sept. 23, 1947 

